Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 288

“Whew, good. The draft is over, and now the most important thing remains.”

“Yes, Manager. By the way, what on earth is going on? Until recently, they were adamant about not offering even $1 million, let alone $5 million…”

“It seems we have to assume that the influence of the newly acquired stake is at play. One of them is the Rophels family. Damn, the stakes suddenly went up, and my hands and feet are trembling.”

“Anyway, I’ll take care of the contract and induction ceremony issues for the new players, Manager.”

“Good, proceed without any setbacks.”

In the 2031 rookie draft that ended yesterday, the Seattle Mariners selected right-handed pitcher Brian Knight as the first overall pick.

Of course, the left-handed pitcher Larry White, whom they initially aimed for, went to the Houston Astros in the next pick.

“But Manager, was this choice really the right one? Anyone can see that Larry is…”

“Enough. Forget what’s past. And it will be fine. He’s the player that someone, none other than Han Su-hyeok, paid attention to.”

Daniel, the general manager, accepted Han Su-hyeok’s advice at the last meeting and chose Brian Knight over Larry White.

No one knew what the outcome of this choice would be at this point.

Of course, except for Han Su-hyeok.

“Well, anyway, the moment of choice is approaching.”

“Yes, Manager.”

The trade deadline, which is about 20 days away.

Daniel, who received approval for an additional $5 million in trade money from the ownership group, was now contemplating two options.

Through the past few trades, the depth of the infield had been filled to some extent.

It wasn’t at a satisfactory level, but he was proud that he had done his best with the limited resources.

The problem was the pitching staff.

The starting lineup was relatively satisfactory.

The 1, 2, and 3 starters, consisting of Ryan Tibo, the franchise star of this team, Han Su-hyeok, who was certain to break various pitching records if he completed the regulation innings, and Mike Warren, who was adapting to the knuckleball [a type of baseball pitch] day by day, were a combination with sufficient competitiveness in the regular season and the postseason.

However, the situation in the middle relief was utterly miserable.

In the first half of this season, Seattle won most of the games in which the 1, 2, and 3 starters pitched, and lost most of the games in which the 4 and 5 starters pitched.

This was not simply due to the difference in the capabilities of the starting pitchers, but because the middle relief pitchers who followed them recorded dismal performances.

The last opportunity to reinforce the team.

Currently, there is one middle relief pitcher close to S-class, beyond A-class, and one starting pitcher fluctuating between B-class and A-class on the market.

The prices of the two were similar.

The other side, which was in urgent need of reducing the team’s payroll, had accepted Seattle’s offer of a 28th-ranked prospect, a 47th-ranked prospect, and $5 million in cash.

Whether to plant a reliable middle relief pitcher in the barren land, or to abandon the relief pitching altogether and further reinforce the starting pitchers to strengthen their strengths.

Click.

After a long period of contemplation, General Manager Daniel opened his mouth.

“Okay, call Milwaukee.”

“Yes? Manager? Then?”

“We’re giving up on strengthening the mediocre middle relief. Maximizing the starting lineup and dragging out as many innings as possible, that will be our team’s strategy for the second half.”

* * *

The All-Star Game pre-event ended, and preparations for the main game finally began.

In the past, when the World Series home-field advantage was given based on the results of the All-Star Game, this place was another battlefield.

However, after that advantage disappeared, the atmosphere of the All-Star Game became much softer.

It has been reborn as a festival for baseball players where the best players in the world gather and compete in a game.

“What? Who’s going where?”

“Milwaukee pitcher Hayashi Rentaro, that guy is going to Seattle.”

“Damn, it’s going to be even harder to deal with them.”

Nevertheless, today, the atmosphere in the dugout where the American League All-Stars were gathered was a little different from usual.

Lucas Anderson, Greg Joseph, Saquill Leonard, and other Yankees players were gathered in one corner, whispering, and on the opposite side, Seattle players centered around Han Su-hyeok and Boston players such as Jerry Wagner formed a group.

The relationship between the Yankees and the Red Sox was the worst, but this year, a variable called Han Su-hyeok was added to it.

Han Su-hyeok, who caused bench-clearing incidents [a situation where players from both teams leave their dugouts and benches to engage in a confrontation on the field] every time he faced the Yankees this season, and as a result, shattered the jaw of Yankees ace Tyson Basham.

“Everyone, stop it. Today is a festival. And who cares who goes where? We’re the Yankees, don’t forget that.”

“Damn it, Lucas, you’re right.”

The Yankees players were whispering about the trade-related news that had just come in.

The news that Japanese pitcher Hayashi Rentaro, who recorded 6 wins in the first half despite the difficult situation, would be wearing the Seattle Mariners uniform.

For the Yankees, who are competing with Seattle for a direct ticket to the Division Series this season, it was a frustrating story.

In the postseason, where 6 teams from each league, the American League and the National League, participate, only the top two teams in winning percentage among the three division winners go directly to the Division Series.

On the other hand, the remaining team that won the division but was pushed to 3rd place in winning percentage must play in the Wild Card game along with the 3 teams that acquired the Wild Card.

To put it simply.

In order to advance to the World Series, winning the division is a given, and going one step further, you must be in the top 2 in winning percentage among the division winners.

Currently, the first-place team in the American League East Division is the New York Yankees, the first-place team in the Central Division is the Chicago White Sox, and the first-place team in the West Division is the Seattle Mariners.

Now that each team has played approximately 90 games, the Yankees, Mariners, and White Sox are in order of winning percentage.

The problem is that the difference in winning percentage is very small. Such a small difference that can be reversed immediately with just a few bad games.

“It’s all because of that bastard. Tyson still can’t eat properly.”

Tyson Basham, who threw the ball at Han Su-hyeok’s head, has not been able to throw a proper ball yet due to the aftereffects of being hit by him.

Although Tyson Basham was the one who committed the wrongdoing in the first place, the resentment of the Yankees players who lost their ace was directed at Han Su-hyeok.

Whether they did or not, Han Su-hyeok, surrounded by his Mariners teammates and Red Sox players, had the most peaceful face in the world.

“Hey, Han, can you sign one for me?”

“Sign?”

“Yeah, I think I should put it in our team’s locker room. I’d appreciate it if you could write ‘Han Su-hyeok who shattered Tyson Basham’s jaw.’ Hehe.”

The misfortune of a rival is my joy.

The Red Sox players, who are eyeing the top spot in the East Division, taking advantage of Tyson Basham’s absence, were showing Han Su-hyeok endless favor.

Han Su-hyeok, who had been talking with such players for a long time, left the place and approached someone.

“Hyung [Korean term for older brother or close male friend], what are you doing alone?”

“Leave me alone. The sorrow of a player from an unpopular team.”

“The Angels are an unpopular team… I think the really unpopular teams will swear if they hear that.”

“Well, is that so? Anyway, this year’s All-Star Game has a particularly bleak atmosphere. Is it because of those Yankees bastards over there?”

“Is that so? Should I go and beat them up? Tell them not to ruin the atmosphere?”

“Ehey, Arthur. If you have a bench-clearing brawl with your own teammate at the All-Star Game, you’ll be in the Guinness Book of World Records.”

“Do things like that get in the Guinness Book of World Records?”

“Isn’t it?”

As befitting the All-Star Game, as various small talks went back and forth, Benjamin Reynolds, the manager who took the helm of the American League All-Star team, entered the dugout.

“Okay, everyone, pay attention here. My hands were shaking as I wrote down the names of these expensive players one by one. But I had to choose the names of 10 players to start, and the result is posted here. Of course, the remaining players will also have opportunities. Even though it’s a festival, a game is a game. Let’s crush those National League bastards.”

After leaving those words, Benjamin Reynolds posted the starting lineup on one side of the dugout wall and returned to the manager’s office.

1. Center Fielder Derek Fleming (Seattle Mariners)

2. Third Baseman Han Su-hyeok (Seattle Mariners)

3. First Baseman Ty Johnson (Seattle Mariners)

4. Designated Hitter Lucas Anderson (New York Yankees)

5. Catcher Jerry Wagner (Boston Red Sox)

6. Left Fielder Zack Rogers (Boston Red Sox)

7. Second Baseman Greg Joseph (New York Yankees)

8. Shortstop Genard Evans (Cleveland Guardians)

9. Right Fielder Patrick Mason (Detroit Tigers)

Starting Pitcher Ryan Tibo (Seattle Mariners)

Shortly after, the names of the players included in the starting lineup were engraved on the electronic display board, and the Seattle fans, who confirmed that four of their players were included, shouted the names of those players in loud voices.

“Derek! You’re the best leadoff in the league!”

“Ty Johnson! Thank you for coming to Seattle! Play here for 10 years and go to the Hall of Fame!”

“Ryan! Ryan, our team’s ace! Please have a great game today too!”

Derek, Ty, Ryan,

And the last player.

“Han! Su! Hyeok! Damn it! You’re the best in the world! No, you’ll be the best ever! Crush them! Crush everything that stands in your way!”

With such fans’ shouts, the 2030 Major League All-Star Game began.

* * *

“Commissioner Go Dong-sik, to be honest. When I first took on the job of broadcasting professional baseball, I never imagined that I would be broadcasting a Major League All-Star Game locally.”

“I agree. I’ve also turned on the notepad on my personal broadcast and broadcast the All-Star Game, but I never dreamed that I would be watching the game so close. Who is this all thanks to?”

“I can’t deny it. It’s thanks to Han Su-hyeok.”

“That’s right. Viewers, we are KBC, a public broadcasting station, the KBC Major League broadcasting team that always advocates for speed, accuracy, fairness, and neutrality.”

“You’re saying my lines for me. Anyway, good. Commissioner, something interesting happened in the locker room before today’s game, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I went to meet Han Su-hyeok and ended up being interviewed by ESPN.”

“They asked me this and that, but… what did they ask the Commissioner?”

“Of course, it would be about Han Su-hyeok, right? Starting with stories from his KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] days, to his recent performances, and even Han Su-hyeok’s personal life, which is almost unknown to the outside world, they asked a wide variety of questions.”

“Is there anything you can introduce here?”

“Introduction… Um, yes, this question is the most memorable. So I answered it with the most sincerity.”

“What is it?”

“They asked about the secret to Han Su-hyeok maintaining such performance without injury while working as both a pitcher and a hitter. To be honest, at first, they suspected that he was taking drugs.”

“Hmm.”

“Actually, I heard a story that several local paparazzi were attached to Han Su-hyeok.”

“Paparazzi?”

“Yes, at first, they tried to dig into his personal life like other celebrities, but everyone knows his girlfriend, yes, that’s right. It seems that nothing came out except for the occasional dates with Min Ye-rin.”

“I see.”

“As things turned out, these paparazzi guys changed direction. What is the secret to Han Su-hyeok not suffering a major injury while working as both a pitcher and a hitter? Is he really taking drugs, or is there another secret?”

“That’s some persistent people.”

“That’s right. Anyway, a conclusion was reached there. The conclusion that Han Su-hyeok is a player who is capable of that.”

“Can you tell me more details?”

“He only knows baseball. He invests all his time in baseball, except for sleeping time out of 24 hours, even while dating, he doesn’t let go of his grip strengthener, and he doesn’t do anything carelessly with the food he eats, he is truly a creature born for baseball.”

“Heo…”

“I don’t know. In fact, from the perspective of us or baseball fans who are watching, we feel nothing but joy at Han Su-hyeok’s performance… but after knowing how much bone-cutting effort the player puts in for such performance, I feel a little sorry.”

“That’s really true.”

“Of course, Han Su-hyeok is playing baseball for himself. So what is this… it’s like respect for a craftsman who pours everything into one field. Yes, so I answered the ESPN interview like this.”

“What did you say?”

“Han Su-hyeok, in my opinion, is a master of baseball, that is, a Meister [German word for master craftsman].”

The Genius Pitcher Hides 170km